hitting a deadend :-/

sweetsapphire85
sweetsapphire85 Posts: 386
edited October 2024 in Motivation and Support
So I've always been on the slightly overweight side of normal range my whole life. I've gotten stocky, big boned, barrel chested, meaty, etc. from my family often. When i moved out I ate like I wanted and hit 150 for about a year and knew i never would accept being over 150 at 5'1". I started with high blood pressure in December of this past year and have now found it related to sodium intake so i monitor that closely

Because of finances while in graduate school I had to move home. My family is the working poor and eat tons of processed foods. Most of their dinners come from boxes or bagged food that you buy at the grocery store and I understand they are trying to get by and live within their means and I should be grateful, but I feel like they are almost resentful that I don't want to eat what they make. At the same time I can't really afford to go buying lots of healthy food because (A) no where to put it where it won't spoil quickly (B) no money to afford fresh produce and meats.

Like today I had a fiber one bar for breakfast, and they are having meatball subs for dinner, the roll alone is 220 calories and 460mg sodium and the meatballs are 600mg of sodium, and they have frozen french fries with it which is another 400mg sodium per serving.

In order to fit this all in under my sodium and calorie requirements today (mostly sodium) my "balanced healthy lunch" was a medium sized apple. I am stuck and don't know what other options I have. I'm beyond frustrated and am not sure how I can manage all this when my hands are tied. (yes i can exercise and i do 6 days a week to burn about 500-800 calories, but today is my "rest day")

I have talked to them about me trying to be healthy as my mother thinks i always need to lose weight, but her solution is to skip eating. But she says if I don't like what she makes I need to eat somewhere else.

Sorry for the rant, but if anyone has any advice please feel free to post. If not at least thanks for the vent.

Replies

  • 2ht2hand1e
    2ht2hand1e Posts: 116 Member
    I had a really hard time in a similar situation with my parents. When I moved away is when I started losing weight because I controlled what was in my fridge. After I lost the weight and graduated I moved back home for a bit. It's sooo much harder when the food at home is not healthy. AND OMG I wanted to eat it because it was there all the time. I don't think there is one solution, but a combination of things to help you. One thing is for the meatball sandwich, would it have helped to eat half of one and your apple? Does your mom cook with salt? You may need to make some of your own meals, and you may not always like it. Sometimes, I had to skip what my family ate and have a bowl of cereal, etc. iinstead. Not fun but SOOO worth it. I hope this gets easier for you soon!
  • Amyding115
    Amyding115 Posts: 120
    It's tough spot to be in..... If you have no other options in regards to fixing yourself something different. Just eat a smaller portion, this will limit you calories for your meal without depriving you. You will also be able to eat more than just an apple for lunch. Another suggestion is to see you can go shopping with your parents and see if you can't make some healthier suggestions for at least a couple of the family meals. You can eat healthy on a budget it just takes a bit more effort. If you're willing to do the research she may go for it.... Good luck with everything.
  • brookiebaby2003
    brookiebaby2003 Posts: 33 Member
    I agree with what coracia said. Try to go shopping with them and point out "healthier" foods. You can still eat good food for cheap prices. You just have to be willing to look for it. Fruit is not extremely expensive and it is very good for you too. You can not just skip meals. It will slow your metabolism down and throw your body into starvation mode and you do not want that! I would sit down and have a heart to heart with your mom and explain how you really need help with the meals. If she is understanding and really wants to help you she will come around! :) Also, if they still want to eat the other way, there are cheap options for you. I realize you are in graduate school but if you could manage to do some kind of side job for just a couple of hours one day on the weekend or something (i.e. clean a friends house for $50) that would be enough for you to get really healthy food to last you all week and then you prepare your own foods. Just eat your stuff and don't eat what they cook.
  • sunyg
    sunyg Posts: 229
    You can eat healthier on a budget. I feed 6 of us on 240 for 2 weeks. Frozen veggies are a great thing. However if your parents won't try that's not going to make much of a difference.

    Can you buy things to make dinner one or two nights a week? Or can you buy protein shakes or powder? That way at least you are getting some good for you stuff.

    I would up my water in take definitely to help flush out the sodium.

    I agree with the previous poster though about doing smaller portions. I would not eat the bread though. That will help some. Could you ask your Mom to let you bake some fries and not add any salt?

    I wish I could offer better advice or just invite you to dinner at least.
  • adidrea
    adidrea Posts: 275 Member
    I know exactly how you feel. I gained so much weight throughout college because I was eating mac n' cheese and ramen noodles. I think you're doing the right thing by talking to your family about it and letting them know that you're trying to improve your health. You could try eating a head of romaine lettuce (around $1-$2) before each meal so that you eat less of the sodium and stick to your calorie limit.


    This post helped me understand that healthy food doesn't *have* to cost a lot, if you pick the right things:

    http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=what_20_will_buy_at_the_drivethru_and_at_the_supermarket

    I hope it helps you and your family. You're doing great, just keep on going!!
  • Coyla
    Coyla Posts: 444 Member
    For your high blood pressure, you can try upping your potassium in order to balance it with your sodium intake.

    Try low sodium V8 juice, which should keep well over time. It's not cheap, but it's not too expensive, either. It has a lot of potassium, so 2 or 3 servings a day may help keep your sodium/potassium levels in balance, which will help you manage your high blood pressure

    Otherwise, I know what you're facing in regards to what your family is eating. I'm not sure talking with them will help, either. But explaining to them your health issues may put things into perspective. Maybe they can meet you in the middle.
  • Mom2rh
    Mom2rh Posts: 612 Member
    In the short term, you can do your best with what they are eating. Don't eat the roll. Don't eat the fries. Eat a "normal" size serving of the meatballs. Have veggies or fruit and drink water.

    good luck
  • sassylilmama
    sassylilmama Posts: 1,493 Member
    Lots of good advice already. But I would also go the route of really explaining to her what can happen when you do not watch your sodium. As a mother the idea of a stroke and many other health problems caused by high bp and sodium would scare me into buying better foods.
  • sweetsapphire85
    sweetsapphire85 Posts: 386
    Thanks guys for all the great advice and supportive messages! You guys are wonderful.

    I'll be working one day a week in the next 3 or 4 weeks to help get by and I think I'll be buying a lot of steam-able veggie bags and eat one of those for dinner instead of their high sodium meals.

    She knows about my high blood pressure due to sodium and has no problem reminding me how much sodium is in it but no one else has the issues I do so it's not as urgent of a problem according to her. She takes offense if I point out certain foods that I can't eat at dinner and says to just not eat any of the meal if that's how I feel.

    1 more year and then i'm free, but i think the steamed vegetable bags will get me by on the nights she decides to make mac and cheese, fish sticks and french fries. or nights like tonight. Right now i'm logging all the food before i sit down to the meal to make sure I know EXACTLY what I'm eating before I put it in my mouth, but that may not happen as easily once my classes start up so this may be an easier option.

    I'll be happy once this year is done and i can get my own place and buy my own food to keep me healthy.
  • sassylilmama
    sassylilmama Posts: 1,493 Member
    There are a lot of coupons for the birds eye steamfresh veggies usually just check the papers. The bags of Hanover brand and the store brands tend to go on sale for $1 a bag too.
  • silkysly
    silkysly Posts: 701 Member
    Sorry to play the mom card, but they are putting a roof over your head & not responsibly for your lifestyle choices. Your mother is right. If you don’t like it, don’t eat it. If you think your only solution is to eat what your mom makes, then it’s just a math problem to get rid of it. Exercise more. You didn’t have to move back home…, you chose to. Now choose to go buy your own food & be responsible for yourself. Sorry to sound so rough, but they are already giving you a break by letting you live there. They didn’t have to; by complaining about what she cooks comes off as ungrateful…
  • sweetsapphire85
    sweetsapphire85 Posts: 386
    I am grateful for having the ability to move back home, I take care of her father every day who is bedridden, bail out their basement from flooding on a weekly basis, do their laundry and cool their meals 3x a week. Don't get me wrong on any of that.

    My problem was when i said she says "don't eat it" i mean don't eat anything, I developed an eating disorder that was supported by my mother for 6 months in high school. She tends to encourage me to develop unhealthy eating habits, that's all. It puts me ina predicament and was looking for advice...that's all.
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